I was still in college the last time I watched the Dallas Cowboys raise the Lombardi Trophy. Droves of Cowboys fans from coast to coast believe the championship drought will continue if owner Jerry Jones remains the card dealer in Dallas. It’s unlikely Jones will relinquish power, but turning 84 this fall may give the Cowboys one more chance at a Hail Mary from the once gambling Wildcatter.
The Cowboys haven’t come close to sniffing the NFC Championship game since the infamous Dez Bryant “No Catch” in the Divisional round against the Packers in 2016.
Since then:
The jury is still out on head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who went 7-9-1 last year in his maiden season. The Cowboys’ 14-19 record over the last two seasons isn’t exactly screaming “America’s Team”.
Opposing teams licked their chops against the Cowboys’ 30th-ranked defense in 2025. They were last in the league in points allowed per game (30.1), passing yards allowed per game (251.5), while being near the bottom in both sacks and interceptions. There is hope, however. The Cowboys hold two of the top 20 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft, creating a clear opportunity to rebuild quickly. The addition of Rashan Gary from Green Bay, alongside Donovan Ezeiruaku, should immediately bolster the defensive line. Getting DaRon Bland support in the secondary will be a priority for the Cowboys’ brass in a draft that is littered with potential game changers at linebacker, safety, and cornerback.
The days of feeding off the struggling franchises of the New York Giants and Washington Commanders at the bottom of the NFC East could be over. Both teams have found their QB Ones in Jaden Daniels (Wash.) and Jaxson Dart (NY). Philadelphia is less than two years removed from winning the Super Bowl and has won the East three out of the last four years. Dallas posted a 4-2 record last season against its divisional rivals, but the margin is shrinking fast. If the defense doesn’t improve, the Cowboys risk falling further behind.
Do I agree with Jerry Jones making Dak Prescott the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL? No, I don’t. The problem is that Dallas doesn’t have a better available option. Despite missing 26 games in his ten years in Dallas, the former fourth-round draft pick has a 2.5/1 touchdown-to-interception ratio for his career, posting an 83-55-1 record. He’s already the all-time Cowboys’ passing leader (34,378) at just 32 years old, but the Dallas faithful are still waiting for that signature moment. His 19-38 career record against winning teams defines the criticism around one of the NFL’s most polarizing quarterbacks. His salary suggests there’s supposed to be another level to his game, and the fans are waiting to see him tap into it in critical moments.
It has been my position for years that as long as Jerry Jones has his hand on the wheel of the Dallas Cowboys, they will remain average. Despite Jones’ inability to general manage efficiently or effectively, the Cowboys scout well and draft well. For that reason, I’m willing to drink the Navy and royal Kool-Aid once again in 2026. With mortality staring Jones in the face, maybe he will return to his roots and roll the dice one more time on someone else calling the shots. They can figure out who gets all the credit later.
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